Baby girl's drowning called accidental

A 9-month-old girl's family is being investigated on neglect allegations following her accidental drowning this week, authorities said.

Renesha Fuller of the 7700 block of South Essex Avenue drowned Thursday night and was pronounced dead at 9:46 p.m. at South Shore Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Following an autopsy Friday, the medical examiner's office ruled the death was accidental.

Renesha was left in the care of an aunt and drowned in a bathtub when the aunt left her in the bathroom for a short time with an older child, a source said.

Renesha's family was being investigated for allegations of neglect connected with her death, said Illinois Department of Children and Family Services spokesman Kendall Marlowe. Children in the home were being cared for by other relatives during the investigation.

The woman who was caring for Renesha at the time of her death has not been investigated by DCFS before, Marlowe said. Renesha's family has previously been investigated by the agency, but the last allegation against the family was in 1998, he said.

Calumet Area detectives are conducting a death investigation, according to Police News Affairs, which was releasing no further details on the case.